Storage file



June 12, 1934. s. c. HUFFMAN STORAGE FILE Filed Jan. 16, 1931 gvwentotS. C. Huffman Patented. June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1Claim.

My invention relates to storage les, its primary object being theprovision of an exceedingly simple storage rile which may be cheaplyconstructed and which may be sold at a low price.

Another of the objects of the invention is the provision of a storage lewith a closure which efrectively prevents the entrance of dust and ofvermin.

It is also my object to provide a knock down storage file which may bequickly and easily set up for use,

It is also my object to provide a flexible strap which covers the narrowslit opening of the closure and `tol provide simple fastening meanswhereby the ends of the strap may be quickly and easily secured to theend walls of the storage file. Having in view these objects and otherswhich lwill be pointed out in the following description,

I will now refer to the drawing, in which Figure l is a view inperspective of the storage file as it appears when partly closed.

v Figure 2 is a perspective View of the storage Vrile as it appears whenentirely closed.

Figure 3 is a sectional View through a portion of an end wall of thestorage iile and through the clip, showing particularly the manner in`which the strap is held at its ends in fixed positiOn.

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 but showing a somewhat modifiedform of clip.

The present invention contemplates the use of a storage le similar tothose shown and de- `scribed in my prior Patents No. 1,697,359 and No.1,697,360, both granted to me on January 1, 1929. The present storage leitself is identical in all respects with those shown in my prior patentsand the only difference is in the provision of a 4simpler strap coveringthe slit in the meeting edges of the two tcp members which constitutethe closure.

The blank from which the storage rile is made is provided with endextensions l0 and with side wall extensions 11 which constitute theclosure. The end wall extensions are first bent down to partially closethe top opening of the storage file and the side wall extensions 11 arethen fold- 4ed over the end wall extensions 10 to completely close thetop opening of the storage file. The combined width of the two side wallextensions 11 is equal to the width of the top opening of the storage leand the free edges of the side wall extensions 11 will therefore meetwhen they are in their closing position. At the meeting edges of the twoside wall extensions there is a very narrow slit opening which wouldpermit the entrance of dust and vermin to the interior of the storagefile unless the slit were closed. It is also desirable to provide alatch which will hold the two side wall extensions l1 in their closingposition. All of this was done in the two prior patents above referredto.

In the present instance I employ a strap 12 of somewhat greater lengththan the length of the storage le and I secure this strap at the freeedge of one of the side wall extensions 11. This strap may be made fromfabric, leather, rubber, or any other suitable material of a similarnature. In soine cases it may even be possible to use a exible metallicfabric. In any case the strap l2 should be thoroughly pliable and itshould stretch Very slightly under tension. It should be securedthroughout half its width to a side wall extension 11 and it may besecured in any desired manner as by means of an adhesive or by means ofrivets or by any other suitable means.

The strap 12 is provided with a pair of apertures 13 in its opposite endportions. The end walls of the storage file are provided with hooks 14for engaging the strap 12 through the apertures 13. In the Figure 3construction this hook 14 is made by stamping out a piece of metal whichis secured to the storage file. The metal is further provided with aplurality of apertures which are made by punching the metal in a mannersuch that rivet portions 15 project rearwardly from the plate. Thismakes it an easy matter to secure the plates on the end walls of thestorage file.

The fastener shown in Figure 4 differs from that in Figure 3 in that theplate is provided with a pivoted tongue 16 which oiiers considerableleverage in the stretching of the strap and in holding the strap inplace.

When it is desired to close the storage file the iiaps 10 are firstturned inwardly into horizontal position after which the aps 11 arefolded down on the flaps 10 with the strap 12 completely covering theslit between the meeting edges oi the flaps l1. The ends ofthe strap 12are then grasped between the thumbs and forefingers and they are pulleddown until the hooks 14 engage the strap 12 through the apertures 13.The only variation in the use of the Figure 4 modication is that thetongues 16 are forced through the apertures 13 and they are then swungon their pivots in order to apply tension to the strap and to latch thestrap in xed position.

The important distinction between the present construction and thatdisclosed in my Patent Number 1,697,359 resides in the nature of thematerial of which the strap 12 is formed. This Strap is so pliable thatit bends into a sharp angle under its own weight. It possessessuflicient elasticity so that it may be stretched taut over the seambetween the cover members 11. The steel strap of my former constructionis readily bendable into a sharp corner but it will not bend under itsown weight nor can it resume its straight form without effort on thepart of the user. It covers the seam in the storage file but it can notbe stretched under the tension employed in closing the storage le. If itbecomes buckled it can not be stretched to remove the irregularities.With the flexible strap 12, the normal stretching incident to itsfastening will tighten it so that its lateral edges will both be inclose Contact with the cover member to form a perfect closure for theseam. These qualities are found only in such materials as webbing,rubber, leather and similar materials. It is to be understood thereforethat where I use the term strap in the description and claims of thepresent application, that term refers only to straps made of a materialwhich possesses the degree of resiliency, elasticity and abbiness foundin such materials as rubber, leather and fabric.

Having thus described my invention in such full, clear, and exact termsthat its construction and operation will be readily understood by othersskilled in the art to which it pertains, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A storage file having an open top, a pair of closure members having ahinged relation with said storage le at opposite sides of the openingthereof, the combined area of said closure members being substantiallyequal to the area of the opening of said storage file, an elastictension strap secured to one of said closure members to overlie the edgeportion of the other of said closure members, said strap being pliableand readily bendable and having end portions projecting beyond the endsof said storage iile and adapted to be grasped for tensioning over themeeting edges of said closure members, said strap being provided withapertures in the end portions thereof, and hooks projecting from the endwalls of said storage le for engaging said strap through the aperturesthereof and for maintaining said strap under tension.

SAMUEL C. HUFFMAN.

